KAERU, a welfare-oriented cashless service, partners with tocotoco, one of Japan's largest franchise chains for group homes for people with disabilities

KAERU Inc. (Head Office: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Tomotaka Okada; hereinafter "KAERU"), a provider of welfare-oriented cashless services that streamline financial transactions in elderly care and disability welfare, is pleased to announce a business partnership with tocotoco Inc. (Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yuki Yamamoto; hereinafter "tocotoco"), which operates group homes for people with disabilities nationwide under the "tocotoco" brand. Through this partnership, we will promote the cashless management of residents' finances at group homes operated and supported by tocotoco nationwide, aiming to create a safe and modern financial management system for both the individuals and their supporters.

Background of the Initiative

At group homes for people with disabilities, cash transactions occur daily for purchasing daily necessities, covering expenses for outings, and paying for medical care. In particular, managing residents' finances involves handling important funds entrusted by the individuals and their families, a task that requires extreme caution and allows no room for error. Handling cash and bankbooks within the facility always carries risks of loss or mix-ups. With the consolidation of financial institution branches and the reduction of counter services, the burden of tasks such as withdrawing cash, handing it over, and recording transactions is increasing year by year.

Consequently, support staff must meticulously handle daily administrative tasks like recording every transaction, storing cash, and managing receipts.

Meanwhile, society as a whole is rapidly moving towards cashless transactions, making a life without cash increasingly common. For individuals with disabilities to continue living their lives with dignity in the community, it is highly significant to review their financial management systems from a cash-based approach to a safer and more contemporary one. For individuals, cashless transactions can lead to "secured freedom of shopping" and "prevention of overspending," while for supporters, it leads to "reduced administrative burden" and "improved transparency through visualization of usage history."

tocotoco, guided by its philosophy "Step by step, at a steady pace," has expanded new forms of welfare that support each individual's life across the country. Both companies share the recognition that cashless financial management will form the foundation for a more secure life for residents, their families, and their supporters, leading to this business partnership.

Objectives and Outlook of the Business Partnership

This partnership will leverage KAERU's welfare-oriented cashless service, "KAERU Biz Care & Disability Welfare," for the financial management of residents in tocotoco's group homes. Specifically, the following initiatives will be promoted:

Introduction of KAERU's cashless financial management system in newly established homes.

Promotion of adoption in all existing homes.

Reduction of cash handling tasks for supporters and improvement of financial management transparency through visualization of usage history.

Enabling families to remotely check balances and understand usage status.

Both companies will first establish operational procedures in a select number of homes, then systematically introduce cashless financial management to newly opened homes, while also vigorously promoting its adoption in existing homes. Through this, we aim to spread a new, non-cash-dependent financial management system throughout tocotoco's entire network.

Expected Effects

Ensuring "financial freedom" that allows individuals to continue enjoying shopping.

Realizing transparent and secure financial management for individuals and their families.

Reducing the administrative burden of recording and managing transactions for each resident's finances.

Further improving service quality by reallocating time spent on administrative tasks to resident care and daily life support.

Social Issues KAERU Aims to Solve

In Japan, with the aging population, the number of people with dementia continues to increase. According to estimates by a research group from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (led by Professor Toshiharu Ninomiya of Kyushu University), by 2030, there are expected to be approximately 5.23 million elderly individuals with dementia, and about 11 million when including those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a precursor stage. Furthermore, by 2040, the number of people with dementia alone is projected to reach about 5.84 million, and including MCI, approximately 30% of the elderly population is estimated to have some form of cognitive decline. Cognitive decline associated with aging can happen to anyone and often leads to difficulties in financial management.

On the other hand, daily financial management is also a significant challenge for individuals with intellectual or mental disabilities. Appropriate financial management support is essential for people with disabilities to continue living their lives with dignity in the community. However, the current system is largely cash-based, placing a heavy burden on supporters.

To realize an inclusive society where both the elderly and people with disabilities can live with peace of mind and in their own way, it is necessary to rethink the very process of financial transactions.

By becoming the infrastructure for welfare-oriented cashless services that support the financial management of the elderly and people with disabilities, KAERU aims to provide an environment where individuals can continue to enjoy shopping with peace of mind, and to offer a sustainable system for supporters.

Comment from Yuki Yamamoto, Representative Director of tocotoco Inc.

At tocotoco, guided by our philosophy "Step by step, at a steady pace," we aim to realize a society where people with disabilities can live with dignity in the community. Financial management is a crucial theme that supports daily life. However, in practice, a significant amount of time and effort is spent on cash management, reimbursement processing, and bookkeeping. We also believe that for residents, financial management is not just about managing money, but a vital foundation that supports an independent life, enabling them to "choose for themselves," "decide for themselves," and "live in the community."

This business partnership with KAERU is not merely about cashless transactions.

It is a challenge to support residents' independence, provide peace of mind to their families, and create an environment where supporters can focus on support itself rather than administrative tasks.

Future welfare cannot be sustained by "passion" alone or by "system compliance" alone. We need to enhance the quality of support and make our operations sustainable by leveraging the power of technology.

Together with KAERU, we want to establish a new standard for welfare from group homes across the country. And we will move forward, step by step, towards realizing a society where residents, their families, and supporters can envision their future with greater peace of mind than ever before.

Comment from Tomotaka Okada, Representative Director of KAERU Inc.

KAERU aims to create a world where everyone, including the elderly with declining cognitive function due to aging and individuals with intellectual or mental disabilities, can continue to enjoy shopping, by providing user-friendly financial services. We are delighted to collaborate with tocotoco, which has one of the largest networks in Japan. For individuals with disabilities to continue living their lives with dignity in the community, financial management support is indispensable. We will support this by providing cashless solutions that are safe for both individuals and supporters and meet modern needs. Through standard adoption in newly established homes and expansion to existing homes, we will spread this initiative nationwide with tocotoco.

Overview of Services Provided by "KAERU"

"KAERU Biz Care & Disability Welfare" - Cashless Financial Management Service for Care and Disability Welfare Facilities

Service Introduction Page: https://kaeru-inc.co.jp/services/care

"KAERU Biz Rights Protection" - Service for Government Agencies, Social Welfare Councils, and Guardians

Service Introduction Page: https://kaeru-inc.co.jp/services/team

"KAERU" - Prepaid Card Service with Assistant Function

Service Introduction Page for Individuals: https://kaeru-inc.co.jp/services/user

"KAERU" - For Long-Distance Caregivers Supporting Family Members Living Apart

Service Introduction Page for Families: https://kaeru-inc.co.jp/services/partner

About tocotoco Inc.

Guided by its philosophy "Step by step, at a steady pace," tocotoco Inc. is a comprehensive welfare provider that supports the creation of integrated welfare networks in communities through the operation and franchise development/consulting of its "tocotoco" brand in welfare and medical care. Through services such as the "tocotoco home" care service-inclusive group home for people with disabilities, "tocotoco nurse" psychiatric home nursing care, and "tocotoco work" supported employment, it provides comprehensive support nationwide for people with disabilities to live with dignity and peace of mind in the community.

Company Name: tocotoco corporation

Representative: Yuki Yamamoto, Representative Director

Location: Heian-do Bldg. 3F, 2-3-25 Kudanminami, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0074

Established: August 2016

Business Activities: Operation of the "tocotoco" brand and consulting services in welfare and medical care

URL: https://to-co-to-co.co.jp/

About KAERU Inc.

KAERU Inc. aims to build a society where people can continue to live with peace of mind and everyone can continue to enjoy shopping, by providing user-friendly financial services for all, including the elderly and people with disabilities.

Meaning Behind the Service Name "KAERU"

The name KAERU, also the company name, embodies three meanings:

To be able to freely "buy" (kaeru).

For users and their wallets to safely "return" (kaeru) home.

To "change" (kaeru) the common notion that one cannot shop when financial management becomes difficult.

Profile of Tomotaka Okada, Representative Director & CEO of KAERU Inc.

After working in corporate sales and business development at a payment venture company after graduation, he moved overseas and joined a startup in Southeast Asia. Upon returning to Japan, he joined LINE Corporation. From the early stages of launching the LINE Pay service, he was extensively involved in growth, from strategy planning to individual product planning. Wanting to create payment services with greater added value for users, he co-founded KAERU Inc. with Fukuda.

Profile of Katsuhiko Fukuda, Director & COO of KAERU Inc.

After working as a civil servant, at Boston Consulting Group, and at Net Protections, Inc., he was responsible for establishing the call center and operations departments for new businesses at Mercari, Inc. / MercPay. He was involved in the launch of numerous products, including Mercari KaWl, Mercari Now, and MercPay.

KAERU Inc. Company Overview

Company Name: KAERU Inc.

Representative: Tomotaka Okada, Representative Director

Location: Kabutocho 6 Hayama Bldg. 4F, 17-2 Nihonbashi-kabutocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo

Established: October 2020

Business Activities: Planning and operation of the welfare-oriented cashless service "KAERU"

URL: https://kaeru-inc.co.jp/